New Delhi, January 30: The Supreme Court on Wednesday has decided not to stay the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018. The act which was passed by Parliament, ruled out any provision of anticipatory bail for a person accused of atrocities against SC/STs. The top court will hear all the petitions against the amendment and review pleas against the March 20 judgment including the one filed by the Narendra Modi government on February 19.

The amendment was passed in both the houses of Parliament during the monsoon session in August last year. The amendment reversed the changes made to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 by the Supreme Court and restored the SC/ST Act in its original form. The apex court order had made preliminary inquiry mandatory before the registration of FIR, while also allowing the accused to seek anticipatory bail. SC/ST Act: Petition Filed in Supreme Court Challenging Amendments.

Dalit outfits organised a nationwide protest on April 2 against the Supreme Court March 20 order. The violence which erupted during the Bharat Bandh on April 2 claimed 10 lives and hundreds of people were injured during the clashes. Protesters blocked trains, public and private property was burnt.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2019 11:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).